Page 2 of The Penalty

“I’d be very careful about what you say next.”

Another arrogant smile. The muscle in my jaw ticked faster.

“Did you know we almost became neighbors? Lovely cottage down the street from you. The owners finally put it up for sa—”

Glass shattered on the floor the second I lunged across the table and grabbed his neck. I wanted to choke the life out of him and make him beg me to stop. Stunned, he stood up, giving me the perfect opportunity to pin him against the wall.

“Big mistake, Maddox,” he rasped.

I didn’t fucking care.

“How does it feel, Jordan? How does it feel to have someone stronger than you hold your pathetic life in the palm of their hand?” I squeezed his neck tighter, turning my knuckles white. “You want to talk about Bennet’s party? Fine. Let’s talk about how you put my girlfriend’s twin sister in a chokehold after she saw your mates beat the shit out of me.”

Some of the entitled bluster drained from his eyes.

“While we’re at it, let’s talk about the night you raped her at the bonfire.”

I kneed him in the balls before he had a chance to counterstrike with his free hand. Air whooshed out of him.

“Fucking prick.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I’ve never raped—”

Another knee to the balls.

This was fun.

“She wanted it.” Saliva dripped from his mouth with every word.

“She wanted none of it.” My voice went dark and sinister. “You threatened her after she saw what you did and then a year later, you raped her. And now my girlfriend lives with the guilt from thinking it was all somehow her fault.”

Jordan struggled in my grasp, much like a mouse trying to escape a cat that’s toying with it. Then, he went limp. Not because I’d rendered him unconscious, although I really wanted to. Glaring at me, he lifted his chin in defiance.

“Those spoiled Americans? The Chase twins? That’s what this is about.” His tone dripped with vitriol. “Little tarts. What were their names? The fun one was Victoria—”

I slammed his head against the wall. “Say her name again and I’ll end you.”

“Thinking with your prick again, I see. She’s quite an attractive woman. I can see why you’d—”

“Stay away from her.”

A low, patronizing laugh vibrated through him. “Too late for that.”

My grip tightened. “You have three seconds to explain before I snap your neck.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

Heavy anticipation filled the room. I could end him with one turn of my wrist. God, I fucking wanted to.

You’ll lose her if you do.

The thing in my chest raged at the thought.

Jordan capitalized on my hesitation.

“She was very polite to me on the phone. Then again, I led her to believe I was a reporter who gave a shit about Royal City Athletic traveling to the States.”

“Stay the fuck away from her.”

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